Social Development Minister Paul Pike on Friday announced a $26 million annual fund that will provide extra money each month to people with disabilities.
Social Development Minister Paul Pike announced the $26 million a year fund on Friday to give people with disabilities extra money each month.(Ted Dillon/CBC)
The Newfoundland and Labrador government says the new benefit is aimed at helping the disability community achieve a basic income.
Announcing the disability benefits at a press conference in St. John’s on Friday morning, Social Development Minister Paul Pike said there are many barriers and challenges facing people with disabilities and their families, especially those on low incomes.
“We have taken, and will continue to take, actions to make investments that contribute to building an inclusive, accessible and equitable state,” he said.
Pike said the benefits have been planned from 2022 onwards and are not a response to the federal government’s cuts of more than $600 million to Labour Market Development Agreements.
There are several criteria that must be met: To take advantage of the new program, residents must be between the ages of 18 and 64, be eligible for federal disability benefits and earn less than $42,404.
Meeting these criteria could earn you up to an extra $600 per person per month – $400 of which comes from the province and $200 from the federal program. However, the full $400 from Newfoundland and Labrador is for people who make less than $29,402 a year. If you make more than that but less than $42,404 a year, you’re eligible for a partial payment.
In addition to income benefits, the state pays $1,200 a year into registered disability savings plans.
“Through the RDSP, our government is contributing to the long-term security of people with disabilities,” Pike said.
Nancy Reid is Secretary General of the Dutch Union of People with Disabilities.
Nancy Reid, executive director of the Newfoundland and Labrador Coalition of People with Disabilities, says it’s important that the benefit is in addition to other support programs, not a replacement.(Ted Dillon/CBC)
The new benefits are also in addition to any support people with disabilities already receive, whether that be income support or other government programs, which will be topped up with the full amount.
Nancy Reid, executive director of the Newfoundland and Labrador Coalition of People with Disabilities, said the only way the new benefits would work is if they didn’t take away anyone from other support programs.
“Obviously, this benefit only matters if it’s in addition to existing assistance,” Reid told CBC News after discussing the new program with government officials.
“That was stated multiple times in the conversation and it was stated very clearly that no matter what source it was received from, it would not be removed or changed in any way. That’s certainly a positive thing and something that’s needed for this to be meaningful in the community.”
The government expects more than 5,000 people living in the state will receive the new benefits, but they will have to wait until next year.
Pike said savings contributions would begin in January and income payments would begin in July.
Reed said Friday’s announcement is a good first step, but she wants to see groups like hers working with the state over the next year to make sure people aren’t left behind.
“We often say, ‘You can’t say anything about us without saying anything about us,’ and this really speaks to that,” she said.
“This disability benefit is about disabled people, but we as people in the community have not received any indication that disabled people are actually part of this plan and what has happened from there. Yes there has been consultation, but consultation is very different to actually being there and being part of the plan and rolling it out.”
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